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Co~ncil Mtg January 2Q. 1998 Santa Mon~ca, Cai~forrna
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TO Mayor and City Counc~{
FR~M C~ty Staff
SUBJECT Recammer~dat~on to IntraducE for F~rst Read~r~g an ~rd~nance Amen~~ng
Sectian 9 04 08 26 040 af Article lX af the Santa Mon~ca Municipal Goc~e To
Speafy Automobile Deaferships m Existence an October 1, 1996 as
CondEt~onally Perm~tted Uses m the C6 Boulevard Commercial District,
Provided Such Uses are not Con~erted ta Another Use
1NTRODUCTION
Th~s report recommends that the CEfy Councif mtroduce for first read~ng an ardinance to
amend Sectron 9 04 08 26 fl4D of A~t~cle IX of the Santa Mon~ca Municipal Gode ta specEfy
that automobile dealersh~ps in existence on October 1. 1996 are cond~tEanally perm~tted
uses in the C6 Boulevard Commerc~af zonin~ distnct, provided such uses are not converted
to another use. On ~ecember 2. 1997, tt~e C~ty Council cans~dered an ord~nar~ce that
would ha~e established existing auto dealerships as permitted uses, subject to certam
fimi#ations, and directed to staff to modify the proposai to be more cons~stent w~th the C4
H~ghway Commeraal zon~~g d~strict auto dealersh~p standar~s The amended ord~nance
is contained in Attachment A
BACKGROUND AND ANA~YSIS
At the December 2, 'l997 Council meeting, the Councif expressed concern that the
proposed ordmance to establish autamob~le dealershrps ~n existence on ~ctot~er ~, 1996
as permitted uses in the C6 zoning d~strict was not consistent with the current C4 zoning
district standards for auto dealerships !n tt~e C4 distnct, new a~tamobile dealerships,
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which inckudes any dealersh~p that has been closed far more than one y~ar. may be
perm~tted sub~ect to the approval af a Canditional Use Permit The Councif stated that auto
dealerships should be treatec! consistently throughaut the City, and that, if any o#the four
existing dealershtps loca#ed in the C6 Distnct closes operations for more than onE year.
there shaufd be a process to enable that dealership to reapen Howe~er, given the exist~ng
C6 prohibition on new auta dealerships in th~ C6 District, the Co~ncil felt that. if an existing
deale~ship ~s converted to anather use. afi nghts #o aperate a dealership at that lacat~on
shauld cease
As proposed, the ardmance does not expand opportunrtres far auto deafershi~s rn the CG
district, but pra~ides more flexfbility in the operatGOn of the four existing dealersh~ps The
four existing auto dealersh~ps would remam classified as legal non-conform~ng uses As
a resul#, these dealershi~s would be sub~ect to t~e Zaning Ordmance regulatror~s regarding
operatian of a legal nonconforming use If an exist~ng dealership is closed for less than
ane year, it would be allowed to reopen Howe~er, if the establGShmer~t ~s con~erted to
a~o#her use, ar~ auta deaEership would not be permitted to resume aperation at the site
In addition, consistent with the C4 District standar~s, by obtammg a Condit~onal Use
Permit, an exist~ng dealersh~p tF~at is closed #or more than ane year would be aliowed to
reopen, sub~ect to compliance with applicabie performance standards The ordinance,
howe~er, proh~bits dealersi~ips that have obtained a Conditional Use Permit and,
subsequentky, fiave converted to another use. from resuming auto dealer operat~ans
The ordmance does not propose modifying the C6 s#andards to allow new auto dealerships
w~th a Condit~onal Use Perm~t lJnlike the C4 d~strtct. which is intended to encourage
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service commerciai uses. such as auto dealerships. the purpose of the C6 district is to
accammodate a range of genera! cammercia! uses while promoting development that is
compatible with the scale and character of ad~acent res[d~ntial neighborhoods Staff
believes increasing the number of auto dealerships m the C6 district wou[d be mconsistent
with th~s purpose
Conclusion
Tl~e propased ord~nance cont~nues to prohibit the es#ablishment of new auto dealerships
~~ the C6 d~strict Ins#ead, the ordinance states that ex~sting auto dealerships are
candit~onalty perm~tted uses Th~refore, if one of the fou~ rema~nmg auto dealerships in
the C6 distr~ct cfoses for more than ane year, i# may be reopened, sub3ect to approval of
a Gonditional Use Permit. Hawever, if #he dealership is converted to another use. the
dealership may r~ot reopen
CEQA STATUS
The proposed Ordinance is exempt fram the prov~s~ans of CEQA pursuant to Class 5 0#
the State Guidel~nes m that the proposed text amendment will specify that automobile
dealerships in existence on Octo~er 1. 1996 are conditionally perm[tteci uses ~n the C6
zaning district Th~ praposed text amendment, therefare, constit~tes a mmor land ~se
fimitat~on wi#h no char~ges in iand use or density
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
N~t+ee of the publrc hearir~g was p~bl+shEd rn The Outfook at least ten days pr~or to the
date ofthe CouncEl hearang as requested by Gavernment Cade section 65091 and Z~ning
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Ordinance Section 9 04 20 22 050 (Attachment B)
BUDGETIFlSCAL IMPACT
T~e recommendation ~resented m#his report does not have any budget or fiscal impact
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Councii hold a public hearing and ~ntroduce the attached
ordinance for first reac~~ng
Prepared by Suzanne Frick, Directar
Amanda Schachter, Senior Planner
Pai.tl Fflley. Assoc~ate P~anner
City Planning Div~sion
Planning and Community De~elopment Department
~+ttachmenfs A Proposed Ordinanc~
B Public notice
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ATTACHMENT A
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Cauncil Mtg Jar~uary 20, 199$
ORDiNANCE NUMBER
(Gity Council SEries}
Santa Monica. Ca~~forn~a
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNC[L OF THE
ClTY OF SANTA MONICA AMENDING SECTION 9~4 p8 26 02D OF ARTICLE IX OF
THE SANTA MONICA MUNICIPAL CODE TO SPECIFY AUTOMOBILE
DEALERSHIPS IN EXISTENCE ON OCTQBER 1, 1996 AS CONDITiQNALLY
PERMITTED USES lN THE C6 BOULEVARD COMMERCIAL Z~NING DISTRICT
WHEREAS, the Zoning Ordmance currently does not include automob~le
dealerships as permitted uses in the Cfi Boulevard Commercial Distnct thus classifymg
exist~ng c~ealerships as legal, non-conformmg uses. and
WHEREAS, the Zaning Ordmance ~llows the expans~on of existing automobife
dealerships in the C6 Boulevard Cammercial D~stnct w~th either a PerFormance Standards
Permit ar Conditional Use Permit depending on the extent of expansion, and
WHEREAS, tl~e current Zoning Ord~r~ance. theretore. has an ~ncoRS+stency betvueen
the procedures established to allow the expans~on af automobile dealerships in fhe C6
Bo~alevard Comme~cial zonmg d~stnct and star~dards wh~ch prohibit tF~e ex~ansi~n of
existing land uses which are not permitted nor condit~anally permitted, and
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WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9 D4 20 16 02a(a)(3) of the Zaning ~rdinance an
applicatian was filed by W I Simonson, Inc for a Zoning Ordinance text amertdment to
specify automabife dealerships in exis#ence on October 1, 199$ as permitted uses m the
C6 zoning district, and
WHEREAS. on October 8. 1997, t~te Planning Comm~ssion held a publ~c hearing
on the ~roposed zoning text amendments which would amend Sect~on 9 04 08 26 Q20 of
the Zonmg Ordinance to specify automobile dealerships m existence on October 1. 1997
as perm~tted ~ses in the G6 Baulevard Commercial zoning d~str~ct ~arouided that su~h
dealerships may not resume operat~ons ~f conver#ed to another use or if operations cease
for a peraod of ane year or longer unless such closure is the result of a natural disaster or
fire, and
WHEREAS, the Gity Councif held a public hearing on the proposed Zon~ng
Ord~nance Text Amendment an December 2, 1997 and requ~sted that staff amend the
proposed ord~nance to make t~e treatment of existmg automobile dealersh~ps in the C6
Bou~e~ard Commercjal District consistent with their treatment ir~ the C4 Highway
CammercEal District in the City by allowmg existing automobkle dealerships in existence on
October 1, 1996 as conditionally perm~tted uses, and
WHEREAS, the City Councfl finds and declares that the proposed amendment ~s
consistent m prmciple with the goals, ob~ectives, poliaes, land uses, and programs
spec~f~ed m the adopted Generak P{an, specjfiically Land Use Element Ob~ective Policy #1 6
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which states that the commerc~al corric~ars of the City should '~Accammodate commeraal
uses which ser~e regionaL commun~ty and local needs wh~le respecting the ad~acent
resEdential neig#~barhoods~~ and automobile dealers are uses patrornzed by both local
residents as wefl as res~dents of the reg~on The proposed text amendment will allow four
auto dealers in existence on October 1, 1996 Cars with CEass at 11 p5 Wilshire Boulevard.
Harnburg ,~aguar, lr~c at 1601 Wilshire Boulevard. W I Simb~son, Inc at 162fi and 1704
Wilshire Boule~ard and Exot~c Cars at 1723 Wilsh~re Boul~~ard to remain and impra~e and
expand af their facilities to better ser~e the public and to re-open if closed for more than
one year as a cond~t~onally {~erm~tted use
WHEREAS, the City Gounci~ finds and declares that the public health, safety and
generai welfare requires the adoptian of the proposed Ord~nance in order that exist~ng
automobde dealerships located in the C6 zoning distric~, which provide ~aluable goods and
serrnces to the public, may be specified as canditiona[ly permitted uses in the C6 district
and thus be allowed to improve and expand #heir fac~lit~es Th~s text amendment removes
an incans~stency betwe~n the existing C6 zoning distr~ct proWisions that allow for auto
dealer expans~on and the non-conform~ng use regulations which pra~ibit such expansion
smce existing auto dealers in the C6 district are not classified as perrnitted or conditionally
permitted uses
NOW, THEREFORE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY O~ SANTA MONICA
D~ES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLL~WS
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SECTlON 1 Article IX of the Santa Monica Municipal Code is amended to read as
folfows
Seetion 9 04 08 26 040 Conditionally permitted Us~s
(a) Automobile dealerships in exEStence on October 1. 1996, provided that
such dealerships may not resume operations if canvert~d ta another use
(a}(b) Expansion Qf existing automobile dealerships indoar or outdoor area by
more than ten percent, or more thar~ five thousand square fee~, whichever is less
~u~4c~ A~d~tor~ums
{ej(d) Department stores over fifty thousand square feet
(~F}(e} Homeless shelters with fifty-fi~e beds or m~re
fe}~f} Hotels and motels
(#}(g} Nightclubs
~g-}(h) Sen+ice stations
{~°r}([} Take-out and fast fooc~ restaurants
{r}(~) Theaters
SECTION 2 Any pro~~sEOn of the Santa Monica Municipal Cocfe ar append~ces
thereto mcons~stent w~th the provisior~s of this Ordinance, fo the extent of such
incons~stencies and no further, ~s hereby repealed or modifted to that extent necessary
to affect the provis~ans of this Ordmance
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SECTION 3 If any section, subsect~on, sentence. clause, or phrase o~ this
Ordinance ~s for any reason heEd ta be ~r~valid or uncanstitutional by a decES~on of any
caurt of competent ~urisdict~on, such decisian shall not affect the val~dity of the
remainmg portior~s of this Ordmance The City Counci] hereby declares that it would
ha~e passed thES Ord~nance and each and eWery sectian, subsect~an, senter~ce, cla~ase,
or phrase not declared invalid ar unconstitutional without regard to whether any po~tian
of the ordEnance wou~d be subsequentiy declared in~alid or unconstitutional
SECTION 4 The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk sF~all attest to the ~assage
of this Ordinance The City Clerk shall cause the same to be pub~ished once tn the
official newspaper within 15 days after its adaption ThES Ordinance shall became
eff~ct~~e 30 days from ~ts adoptian
APPROVED AS TO FORM
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MARSHA JONES MOUTRIE
C~ty Attarney
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ATTACHN~N'T B
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NOTICE OF A PUBLIC HEARING
BEFORE THE SANTA MONICA C1TY C~UNC~L
SUBJECT. A P~blic Hearing wiil be F~eld by the C~ty Councii on the follaw~ng
request
Introduction and first reading of an ordinar~ce to amend Part 9 04 08 26 af
A~ticle IX of #he Santa Monica M~n~cipal Cade to establish p~-avrsions to
allow the continued operation of autamobile dealerships located ir~ the C6
Boulevard Commercial ~oning district that were in ex~stence as of October
1. 1996
APPLICANT. W I Simo~son, Ine
WHEN: Tuesday, January 20, 1998 at 6 30 P M
VIIHERE: Council Chamber, Room 213
1685 Main 5treet, Santa Monica
HOW TQ COMMENT
The City of Santa Manica encourages public comment an this and other pro~ects You ar
your representati~e, ar any other persons may comment at the City Councal's public
heanng, or by wnt~ng a letter
Letfers shauld be addressed to City Clerk
1685 Main Street, Raom 102
Santa Mon~ca, CA 90401
MORE INF~RMATION
If des~red, further information on any application may be obtamed from the City Plannmg
Division a# the address abo~e or by calling {310) 458-8341
The m~etrng fac~l~ty is access~ble If you need any disabifEty-related accommodat~ons,
please contact staff at (3'f 0}458-8701
Pursuant to Cal~fornia Government Co~e Sectian 65009(b}, if this matter is subsequently
challenged m Co~rt, the challenge may be limited to only #hose issues raised at the PublEc
Hear~ng descr~bed m this notice, or m written correspnndence deli~ered to the City of Santa
Monica at, or pnor to, the Public Heanng
ESPAIVOL
Esto es ~n a~jsa sobre una audencia publica para re~isar appl~caciones proponiendo
desarrallo en Santa Monica Esto puede ser de mteres a usted S~ desea mas
informac~on, Ilame a Carmen Gut~errez al numero {310} 458-8341
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APPR4VED AS T~ F~RM
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AMANQA SGHACHTER
Seniar Planner
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